N23bn bribe: EFCC arrests two ex-ministers, PDP chieftains

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday and Tuesday arrested key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the North-East states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe and Gombe.

The arrests, it was learnt, were part of investigations into the $115m (N23bn) allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.

This is just as Senator Saidu Kumo, who is the Special Adviser, Political Matters, to the embattled PDP Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff; and a former PDP Chairman in Gombe State, Paloma Nuhu, returned N2m each from their share of the money.

Some of those arrested include: a former Minister of Power, Mohammed Wakil (Borno); a former Minister of Science and Technology, Alhaji Abdu Bulama (Yobe); and the PDP chairman, Mr. Joel Madaki (Adamawa). The accountant of the Gombe State Government House, Mr. Mohammed Balbaya, was also arrested for the Diezani bribe.

Explaining the reason for the arrests, a reliable source at the EFCC told our correspondent that the suspects handled N450m each for their respective states.

The source said the PDP chairman in Adamawa State was arrested for receiving N450m. The chairman, Madaki, was said to have told investigators that the money was handed over to the then acting Governor Bala Ngilari.

The detective said, “The PDP chairman in Adamawa has shifted the burden of explaining how the sum of N450m campaign funds sent to the state were distributed by the former acting governor of the state, Ngilari.

“In a statement he wrote and signed at the EFCC office in Gombe, the PDP chair said he, in conjunction with a former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hassan Adamu, a signatory to the document, authorised  the release of the money by the officials of Fidelity bank in Yola.

“Madaki, however, said he immediately gave the money to the former acting governor of the state for disbursement to the beneficiaries as envisaged by the donor, adding ‘I did not know how Ngilari distributed the money’.”

The source revealed that Adamu had been invited to explain his own side of the story on June 16. It was also learnt that Ngilari might soon be invited by the anti-graft agency.

Regarding the sharing of the fund in Gombe State, the EFCC source said the accountant of the Gombe State Government House, Mr. Mohammed Balbaya, was arrested and interrogated.

The detective said, “Balbaya was interrogated for his role in the N338m campaign funds sent to Gombe. He told investigators that he collected the sum in cash from an official of Fidelity Bank in the state based on the directive of Senator Kumo.

“He said that he contacted the Permanent Secretary and Principal Private Secretary to the governor of the state, Dr.Sani Jauro, who directed him to share the money to the beneficiaries. He denied deriving personal benefit from the process. However, he had not shown who the beneficiaries were and the amount individual or group collected from him.

“Senator Kumo and the state former PDP chairman, Paloma Nuhu, have through bank drafts refunded N2m each which they claimed to be their personal benefits from the funds. The said amount came from the sum of N106m both signed and collected from Fidelity Bank for their state. However, Senator Kumo could not account for the balance of N106m.”

In Borno and Yobe states, the funds were allegedly coordinated by ex-ministers Wakil and Bulama respectively.

A source at the anti-graft agency quoted Bulama as saying that he collected N450m from the Director of Finance, Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman, for use in funding the PDP presidential election in the state.

 “Former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman called and informed me to go and collect money in Fidelity Bank. A five-man committee was set up to coordinate the campaign activities in Yobe State, and we received N450m.

 “The money was disbursed based on a template we received from Abuja and we shared it among the three senatorial zones in the state.”

The Borno State Coordinator, Wakil also confirmed he received N450m, according to the EFCC source.

 “I received a call from Nenadi Usman, former Minister of Finance, that N450m was sent to Fidelity Bank and a template for how the disbursement of the funds will be conducted.”

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World tallest man living- guiness book

The tallest man living is Sultan Kösen (Turkey, b.10 December 1982) who measured 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in) in Ankara, Turkey, on 08 February 2011.
The part-time farmer was the first man over 8 ft (2.43 m) to be measured by Guinness World Records in over 20 years.
Indeed, GWR only knows of 10 confirmed or reliable cases in history of humans reaching 8 ft or more.
Sultan first became the world's tallest living man in 2009, when he measured 246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) in height.
He took the title from Xi Shun (China, b. 1951), who measured 2.361 m (7 ft 8.95 in) in height when measured in 2005.
Sultan is one of five siblings, with three brothers and one sister. The rest of his family, including his mum and dad, are all 'normal' sized.
Because of his extreme height he was never able to finish school but works occasionally as a farmer to support his family.
He describes one of the advantages of being tall as being able to help out his mum out with jobs such as changing a broken light bulb and hanging curtains.
Disadvantages to his height he lists include not being able to find clothes or shoes that fit or finding it extremely hard to fit into a regular size car.
Like every young man in their twenties, Sultan enjoys listening to music, playing computer games and watching movies.
                                                                     
What are the giant's dreams for the future? "I want what everyone else wants," says Sultan. "A wife, a family, a nice home. I'd also like the chance to find some decent clothes that fit! I've already had a suit made for me, and at least one dream has come true: I now own a pair of jeans made specially for me!"
More photos from the world's tallest man's wedding day can be found on.
if you would like to contact Sultan directly to work on an event or appearance, please contact him via email at sultan.kosen@mynet.com. Please note, any such appearance will incur a fee.

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Nigerian army captured 9 insurgents in Borno

Troops deployed in the ongoing operation Lafiya Dole in the North East have captured nine members of the Boko Haram sect who were hiding in fox holes in the Borno State.

The Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman, said in a statement on Monday that the troops of the 22 Brigade Garrison, captured the insurgent during a clearance operation at terrorists hideouts of Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages.

Usman who said that three  of the insurgents were also killed by the troops added that the insurgents were terrorizing the innocent villagers with dangerous weapons before the operation.

According to him, the troops recovered ‘nine dane guns, three machetes, one bow with arrows, six motorcycles used by the Boko Haram terrorists to ferry slaughtered cow meats to Boko Haram terrorists hideouts, one tricycle, four Tiger Generators and one solar panel’ from the insurgents.

He said “In compliance  with the military high command’s directive which is to ensure that all villages and towns are cleared of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists,  troops of 22 Brigade Garrison in Operation Lafiya Dole,  on Sunday May 1, 2016 cleared  four villages of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area.

“The terrorists hibernating  in Cinga, Mallum Maja, Bosuma and Murye villages, were armed with dangerous weapons and have been terrorizing the communities. During the operations three Boko Haram terrorists were killed while nine of them who tried hiding in foxholes and dug outs were identified and captured alive.”

Usman stated also that the troops also released 400 persons held hostage by the insurgents.

He added that the troops recovered 300 cattle rustled by the Boko Haram and handed them over to their rightful owners.

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Meet the verified world oldest woman

'It's about hard work, long walks and lots of love': Born in 1897, 'world's oldest woman' reveals secret of long life - as she turns 119

• Family of Celina del Carmen Olea's claim she is world's oldest woman aged 118
• Argentine Celina is mother of 12 and grandma to 'many more' she says  
• Lives in Buenos Aires slum with son Alberto, adopted daughter Gladys, 48
• She puts her long life down to not smoking and 'filling her life with love'
• Discovery comes days after Brazilian civil servants find 131-year-old man

The family of a pensioner in Argentina claim she is the world's oldest living woman – as she prepares to celebrate her 119th birthday.

According to her identity card and birth certificate, Celina del Carmen Olea was born on February 15, 1897.

From her home in the slums of from Buenos Aires, she puts her longevity down to not smoking, walking everywhere, hard work and, she says most importantly, 'filling her life with love'.

And there can be no argument that is what Celina has done, having had 12 children and adopted and fostered many more children over the years.

She has lost count of the number of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren she has today.  

Some of her children went to school, while others went to work on the family's chicken farm in rural Tucuman province. 

Born on a farm three years before the beginning of the 20th century, Celina who was 17 at the beginning of the First World War, moved to Buenos Aires in the 1960s with her husband Jose Inocencio Segovio, who died shortly after the move.

The last time Celina got together with her whole family was last February for her 118th birthday.

These days she spends her days quietly at home in Buenos Aires with her son Alberto.

One of her adopted daughters Gladys, 48, lives around the corner and dotes on the woman who took her in when she was four days old. 

Despite her years, wheelchair-bound Celina is in remarkably good health and takes no medicine apart from cream for cysts around her eyes.

'She talks to me about her siblings, my father, my brothers and sisters, but they are all dead,' Alberto said. 

'Up until a couple of years ago she walked and cooked, soup was her speciality,' he added. 

Her story comes just a week after officials in Brazil made the astonishing claim that they had discovered a 131-year-old man after making routine visits to check he was still alive, and therefore eligible for his pension.

Civil servants posted Joao Coelho de Souza's photo and birth certificate online, which says he was born in the city of Meruoca in Ceara nearly 2,000 miles to the east of Acre on March 10, 1884.

Brazilian media reported that Joao lives with his wife, 69 years his junior, and three children.

His daughter, Cirlene Souza, is only 30, which would mean that Joao was 101 when she was born.

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Over 7,000 Agatu still displaced, neglected, missed cries Rep

Two months after the killings in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, over 7,000 displaced inhabitants have yet to return to the sacked communities.

The Deputy Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Solid Minerals, Mr. Adamu Entonu, said this on Sunday.

About 500 people were reportedly hacked to death in March when the attackers overran villages in Agatu, burnt houses and left many others injured.

Many local people fled their homes to escape further attacks.

Entonu, who represents Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the House, told The PUNCH that the displaced persons could not return home because they would have nowhere to lay their heads.

He lamented that since the attacks took place, the Federal Government had not started any reconstruction of destroyed buildings and basic facilities like health centres and schools.

Entonu added, “The situation in Agatu remains pathetic. Over 7,000 villagers were displaced and they cannot return home because the attackers left nothing for them.

“Till date, no reconstruction of infrastructure has taken place. There are no facilities and as a result, more people are dying.

“Apart from the National Emergency Management Agency, which sent some relief materials initially, there is nothing else that has happened in the area.

“The materials sent by NEMA were even grossly inadequate. More urgent is the need to quickly rebuilt infrastructure and send these people back to their homes.”

Entonu called on the government to include Agatu communities and other communities in Benue State, which were attacked by the same suspected Fulani herdsmen, in the reconstruction initiative for the victims of Boko Haram in the North-East.

“The attacks in Agatu followed the same pattern as the Boko Haram invasion of communities in the North-East.

“We call on the government to give similar attention to Agatu like it is doing with the North-East; they should reconstruct these villages so that the survivors can return to their normal life,” the lawmaker added.

He called for tighter security in Agatu, saying the current “ad hoc” arrangement of deploying soldiers each time an attack occurred was not sufficient.

“What the people prefer is a permanent Mobile Police Squadron.

“They should be here on a permanent basis so that villagers can seek help before an attack or immediately there is an attack,” he stated.

Entonu explained that the villagers were willing to donate a “large parcel of land” for the riot police squadron to erect its structures in Agatu.

“We have been talking with the Ministry of Interior on this and they have assured us that they will see what it can do,” he added.

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Saraki Faces Fresh Charges For Receiving Governor’s Salary As Senator

The Federal Government has amended the charges of false asset declaration preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

With the amendment, Saraki will be facing two fresh charges in addition to the 13 counts originally preferred against him, which comprised false asset declaration and maintaining of offshore account while serving as Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.



The additional charges, include allegation that Saraki continued to receive salary and emoluments as Governor of Kwara State after the expiration of his tenure and at the same time, from the Federal Government as a senator between June 2011 and October 2013.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 6(a) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act. CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 2(a), Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the code of conduct bureau and tribunal act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

The other additional charge is that Saraki failed to declare to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office as Governor of Kwara State in 2003, his leasehold interest leasehold in the property at 42, Remi Fani Kayode Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

He was said to have acquired the property in December 12, 1996 through his company, Skyview Properties Limited from First Finance trust Limited.

The offence is said to be contrary to section 15(1)(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, CAP. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) and (2), Part I o the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

It is said to be punishable under section 23(2) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act as incorporated under paragraph 18, Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.

Our correspondent learnt on Thursday shortly after Saraki’s ongoing trial before the CCT was adjourned till April 27 for further cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, that the Federal Government might further amend the charges before they will be read to the accused person.

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Fresh plot in the senate, as Lawal may replace Ndume

ARRING any last minute change of plan, a re-jig would soon be announced in the Senate and some principal officers, especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would vacate their positions.

This, Daily Sun learnt, is part of the new agreement reached by the feuding lawmakers to douse the lingering crisis that has rocked the Senate since inception last year.

Part of the option on the table is the ceding of the position of the Senate Majority Leader to the Barnabas Gemade-led Unity Forum in line with the earlier position of the leadership of the APC.

In a June 25, letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, the APC National Chairman had detailed the names of party’s preferred candidates thus: Senate Majority Leader (North East – Ahmad Lawan); Deputy Majority Leader (North Central – George Akume); Senate Chief Whip (South West – Olusola Adeyeye) and Deputy Chief Whip (North West- Abu Ibrahim).

The Senate President, while refusing to implement the APC position, had explained that the party’s letter got to the Senate after the various caucuses had decided to nominate candidates for the vacant positions.

But under the imminent deal, Ahmad Lawan would replace Ali Ndume as Majority Leader.

A feeler to this effect emerged following last Wednesday’s closed-door meeting where the lawmakers were said to have resolved to shelve their differences and forge a common front.

Daily Sun gathered that the Senate leadership might also tinker with the current composition of the headships of the 64 standing committees to accommodate aggrieved members of the Unity Forum who are believed to have been shortchanged.

After a three-hour closed-door session, the lawmakers had released a list of resolutions reached by both members of the ruling APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Part of the resolutions, according to Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was the setting up of a 12-man committee, two from each of the six geopolitical zones with a mandated to explore every option available to ensure the contentious issues are resolved amicably.

A PDP Senator who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence, said lawmakers agreed during the closed-door session not to disclose details of the meeting to the public, until the committee submits its report.

But he stated briefly: “Senators are worried that our image has been severely damaged and we need to quickly do something about it. Everyday, I wonder if coming to the Senate at this time was not a mistake. We have been fighting ourselves and we think that enough is enough.

“That was why we had to enter that closed-door session and that is the longest we have had since we were inaugurated last June. If removing the Senate Leader or even the Senate President will bring this crisis to an end, I am for it. The Senate is bigger than any individual.”

Spokesman of the Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa also stated that APC lawmakers were ready to support the reconstitution of the headships of the various standing committees as part of the peace deal.

“At the end of our meeting, we came up with a three point agenda. We talked about the issue of committees’ composition. We talked about APC members in the Unity Forum who were sidelined in the composition of the committees. We said if you want to come together, we need to review certain things. The third thing was the issue of leadership.

“We agreed on two out of the three items on the agenda. We are still on the third issue on how the Senate can comply with the position of the party, APC. We have agreed that it in the best interest of APC for us to work together,” he said.

Senate spokesman, Senator Abdullahi Sabi could not be reached to comment on when the committee will submit its report.

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